On 8th August 2026, Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery Christchurch opened The Art of Noticing Photography Exhibition, featuring around 100 works by 38 local photographers from the Christchurch Photographic Society. Nearly 100 people attended the opening, including FGY Art Gallery NZ Curator Abbess Manshin, participating photographers, Friends of FGY Art Gallery, BLIA South Island Chapter President James LOW, Elder Advisor Bernie SIEW and local communities.
The exhibition features a wide range of subjects, including landscapes, wildlife, architecture and portraits. The photographers also use different techniques and creative approaches. Some works use intentional camera movement to transform landscapes into images filled with rhythm, colour and texture. Others are finished with beeswax instead of traditional framing, while some use traditional 19th-century processes such as platinum printing and carbon transfer printing to bring out different qualities of light, detail and depth.
Abbess Manshin highlighted that since its opening in 2007, FGY Art Gallery Christchurch has followed the vision of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the Founder of FGS Buddhist Order, to bring the temple to the community. The Gallery provides an open cultural space where local people can come together and enjoy art. The exhibitions not only showcase the beauty of photography but also brings colour, warmth and hope to the community.
Christchurch Photographic Society President Ian Walls thanked FGY Art Gallery Christchurch for providing the opportunity to hold the exhibition. He quoted renowned American photographer Dorothea Lange: The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera. He encouraged visitors to develop their ability to observe everyday life through the photographs and discover beauty in unexpected places. He also thanked the Gallery team and Society members for their efforts in making the exhibition possible.
Exhibition Curator Penny Kennedy shared that the exhibition was developed step by step, from finding the venue and planning the theme to selecting works, designing the poster and installing the exhibition. She noted that many members are exhibiting their work publicly for the first time, alongside experienced and award-winning photographers. She said the exhibition is not only about photographic skills, but also about sharing how photographers see and experience the world, encouraging visitors to notice scenes and moments that can easily be overlooked.
Several participating photographers said they first became familiar with the Temple and its surroundings through previous Society gatherings and visits. They were pleased to have the opportunity to exhibit in the space and thanked the Art Gallery team for its support. The exhibition will run for three months, with some works changing during the exhibition period, giving visitors opportunities to experience a wider range of photography.
